If you live in Putnam County, New York, you’ve just gotten through another cold winter. New Yorkers know what it’s like to have cold and snow, and they know a nice fireplace makes the winter easier. You use your fireplace a lot, which is why it is important that you have it inspected and cleaned annually. Alpine Chimney Sweeps is the top company to call here in Putnam County, NY. When we come in and inspect, we’ll look for repairs that need to be completed, creosote build-up, and water damage.

Creosote and Repair Workdeteriorating brick wall

Creosote is the gunk that builds up as smoke leaves your chimney. The wood that you’re burning in your fireplace contains some moisture, even if it’s been properly cured. When you burn wood, the moisture leaves in the form of smoke, and it carries chemicals with it. When the smoke reaches the upper parts of the chimney, where it’s cooler, it condenses and forms a layer of creosote. With each fire, this layer gets thicker. Creosote is very flammable, and at even 1/8 of an inch, it can ignite a spark that starts a chimney fire.

Many times the chimney doesn’t contain enough oxygen to keep the chimney fire burning for too long. In fact, oftentimes it isn’t even noticed by the homeowner. This is extra dangerous because you won’t know to call for an inspection. When we come in to inspect your chimney, we’ll look for that type of repair work, as well as get rid of any creosote buildup.

Chimney Leaks

Another thing we’ll be looking for is chimney leaks. This can happen in many ways. If your flashing is ripped or torn loose, if your chimney crown is cracked or chipped, or if your chimney cap is rusted or broken, precipitation can trickle down your chimney and cause the mortar to weaken. Sometimes the mortar has been damaged by the freeze-thaw cycle, and as it deteriorates, rain can get through the cracks and into your chimney, where it can damage the metal parts of the fireplace. No matter how it happens, leaks can cause problems for the homeowner, and at Alpine Chimney Sweeps, we know what to do to prevent it from happening.

Prevention before leaks can occur is the best treatment. This means waterproofing your chimney before leaks happen. Alpine’s chimney sweeps use ChimneySaver waterproofing solution. This is important, because not only does it keep water out of your chimney, it allows any moisture that remains in the bricks or mortar of your chimney to escape, This is essential to keep your chimney in tip-top shape.

At Alpine Chimney Sweeps, we have the know-how, the tools, and the expertise to keep the water out of your chimney! If you live in Putnam County or the surrounding area, give us a call soon to set up an appointment.